Saving four OFWs on death row is priority of new DFA exec
Jan 31, 2006
Updated 07:18pm (Mla time)
Inquirer
SAVING four Filipino workers sentenced to death overseas is now the primary concern of the newly-appointed Foreign Affairs undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs.
“There are only two avenues left for the Philippine government to save them. One is by making representations for the grant of executive clemency and the other is to offer blood money to the victim’s families to completely exonerate them (OFWs),” Esteban Conejos Jr. said in his first media briefing at the Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
Conejos said that of the four OFWs, three are women who have been convicted of killing their employers in
The male OFW was meted the death penalty in
Meanwhile, Cornejo said the DFA has recently hired two Kuwaiti lawyers, who are experts in the appellate level, to represent OFW Marilou Ranario who has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing her Kuwaiti employer last year.
Aside from these cases, Conejos said his office would be focusing on assisting 32 other OFWs in different countries who are facing offenses punishable by death.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Saving four OFWs on death row is priority of new DFA exec
Remittance costs eat up 5% of OFW incomes -- BSP
Remittance costs eat up 5% of OFW incomes — BSP
By Des Ferriols
The Philippine Star 02/03/2006
Sending money to their families cost overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) between 1.31 and 4.4 percent of their income, equivalent to a total of about $154.5 million to $519 million that are paid to banks out of the projected $11.8 billion worth of remittances this year.
According to an estimate made by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the cost of sending money is even higher if OFWs send their earnings through non-bank channels such as door-to-door delivery services which cost up to almost five percent of their income.
BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said yesterday that remittance fees vary depending on whether the remittance is coming through banks or money transfer agents and whether the money is being directly credited to the account of beneficiaries, other local banks or door-to-door delivery.
According to Guinigundo, the cost is also affected by the origin and destination of the remittance as well as the mode of payment, whether in pesos or in US dollars.
"Based on information we have gathered, the cheapest remittance fee would involve direct deposit of remittance in pesos to an account maintained with the remitting bank," Guinigundo said.
The most expensive, on the other hand, is the door-to-door delivery of foreign exchange remittance. Additional fee is also charged for delivery made outside Metro Manila.
Guinigundo said a study made by the BSP indicated that bank remittance fees range between 1.31 percent and 4.4 percent of the amount of remittances.
He said these fees include the transfer cost as well as the cost of foreign exchange conversion.
"That’s why promoting competition among the different service providers would help bring down the remittance fees," Guinigundo said. "We’re also working to remove barriers that tend to increase remittance charges and to improve payment and settlement systems to make it more efficient to lower remittance costs."
The BSP official added there is also a serious need to educate OFWs and their families in channeling part of their remittances to savings and other micro-enterprises.
In time, Guinigundo said OFWs invariably return to the country and saving up part of their income would help them reintegrate to the economy.
More on OFW Power
More on ofw power
BIZLINKS By Rey Gamboa
The Philippine Star 02/03/2006
Our recent column (Harnessing the OFW Power, 30 January 2006) quickly elicited quite a number of comments from readers, many of them accessing the electronic version of The Philippine Star item via the Internet from as far as the
We’ve compiled some of the more interesting reactions for today’s column. They paint an interesting picture of how our overseas Filipino workers feel about their years working abroad. This first one is from Cianamen Palmero who is now employed in
"I just read your column (Harnessing the OFW Power, 30 January 2006) and I do agree with the idea. I’ve been here in the
"My long term goal is really to invest in marketable securities and real estate. I’m quiet fortunate ‘cause I have the financial freedom and the ample knowledge to hopefully engage in such things unlike most of our kababayans here abroad.
"Most of us here really want to invest in any form of business but some just don’t know where to start, what to do, or simply just don’t have the business acumen to really succeed in their would-be chosen business.
"OFWs are willing to invest so long as they know their money would be safe and (the) returns sufficient. Whoever will handle such program must have integrity, compassion and vision. Integrity, because we all know how we perceive our politicians to be; compassion, for the hard-earned money that these OFW’s worked hard for; and finally, the vision to really understand what this program is all about and where is it leading to. And of course let us not forget the significant role of information dissemination in such kind of program.
"Anyway, hope I could read more of these kinds of programs and hopefully too, it won’t remain an idea written in a piece of paper.
Invest in the economy |
This one is from Carina Dizon from the
"I read your column about investing in the
"I would like to invest and help our economy, but our government was not clear on how the overseas worker could get involved and (how they could) invest their hard earned money. The government should guarantee the investment the same way it guaranteed the international investors, because overseas workers want a guaranteed return of their hard earned money.
"How I wish the Philippine government introduced to the Filipino people especially overseas worker the steps on how to invest in simple layman terms. For a start, the government should educate the overseas worker prior to leaving the country (on) the following:
"1. A guarantee that the money invested would not go to the hand of blue collar criminals.
"2. Steps on how to invest, what, whom, where, how much the minimum/maximum interest required and where to purchase it while… abroad, likewise, the terms or conditions in clear language.
"3. Continued dissemination of investment information or options, and where and how to get them.
"4. Information on who is managing the investment and where the money is (going to be) invested. The investments for (companies like) NAIA-3, UCPB, and Napocor should be managed by people / private companies with… sterling records.
"Probably President Arroyo should harness her talented economic managers to work on this and implement it as soon as possible, so that the overseas worker would not spend all their hard earned money on daily consumptions. The government should educate the overseas worker, their families on how to invest.
Relentless financial literacy campaign |
Tony Ranque from the
"I believe we need to do massive and relentless financial literacy campaigns for OFWs and families first so that they will understand and appreciate what is being proposed (in the column Harnessing the OFW Power, 30 January 2006).
"OFWs should then be encouraged to form small savings and investment groups where they may jointly educate themselves on financial matters.
"Incidentally, I heard that BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) will undertake a series of advocacy campaigns on financial literacy programs for OFWs and their beneficiaries in various regions of the country starting February."
ERCOF is a non-profit organization whose avowed vision is for an economically, politically and spiritually empowered
Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 4th Floor,
Only GMA can exempt OFWs from paying $5 Naia security fee
Business Mirror
February 3, 2006
UNLESS President Arroyo signs an executive order, all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) would pay the $5 "security charges" that the
The Naia is raising P1.3 billion a year, or about P7 billion in five years, to finance a comprehensive effort to make the Naia a veritable fortress equipped with all kinds of detectors, listening devices, hand-held "wands," x-ray portals and vans that could detect if nearby vehicles or suspected cars contain explosive devices.
This van is similar to the ones that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) deployed in
Called a "backscatter" van, the vehicle is equipped with a threat image projection (TIP) equipment showing which vehicles within range contain bombs or explosive charges, and each car would cost about $5 million or P27.5 million each.
On the other hand, the x-ray portals that would be deployed at the airport's entrance would also be able to detect any metallic object or suspicious items in a person's possession that carriers could show so as to avoid body frisking or "patdown" inspection, according to an official of the premier airport who is privy to the three public hearings conducted among airport and airline officials.
The most contentious issue that the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) has to deal with is whether it has the political will to charge $5 as well to domestic travelers, expected at about three million passengers a year. "The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has allowed all ICAO member-countries to levy the security fee and its edict does not exempt anyone from paying, including the OFW or domestic passengers," said a Miaa official who requested anonymity. R. Mercene
BTr to craft new debt tool for OFWs
Business Mirror
Feb 6, 2006
BTr to craft new debt tool for OFWs
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has endorsed the issuance of a new debt instrument envisioned to benefit millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families while helping deepen the domestic capital market as well.
Officials said the new instrument, details of which are still to be fleshed out by the national treasurer, will definitely not embody an earlier proposal by foreign bankers to securitize the huge remittances of OFWs.
In an interview, BSP chief Amando Tetangco Jr. said the new proposal has received a favorable reception from the national government although details of the transaction have yet to be hammered out.
"We have already endorsed the idea to the national government and the Bureau of Treasury is considering the proposal," Tetangco said on Friday.
According to him, it is up to the BTr, now headed by former Citibanker Omar Cruz, to transform the idea into a full-scale debt instrument that will particularly benefit OFWs, while also making available more investment opportunities for long-term investors in the country.
He stressed the debt instrument would not involve the securitization of OFW remittances that some foreign banks, would have Philippine authorities endorsed and adopted. J. Vallecera
Pinoys held in OFW's death in Brunei
Business Mirror
Feb 6, 2006
Pinoys held in OFW's death in
ROYAL Brunei police picked up for questioning five Filipinos and one Bruneian Thursday last week in connection with the death of Filipino national Jovita Zapanta, whose body was found in a secluded public area on January 28 in the Brunei capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine embassy in Brunei Darussalam is extending full assistance to the Filipinos arrested for "criminal conspiracy to commit murder."
Ambassador to Brunei Virginia Benavidez told DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos that based on the initial police report, Zapanta died in another place and "circumstantial evidence" collected showed she was murdered elsewhere. Her body was found wrapped in plastic and fabric.
Bruneian pathologists said that Zapanta died either on January 26 or 27. "The embassy is working for the early resolution of the case [and] to facilitate the shipment of Ms. Zapanta's remains to the
She said the incident was reported to the embassy on January 27 by Zapanta's daughter. Benavidez said "embassy officials then immediately searched for Ms. Zapanta's residence and relatives in Brunei Darussalam. Three of Ms. Zapanta's housemates were eventually contacted, and were accompanied to the police for further investigation." E. Torres
Citibank to go into remittance business
Citibank to go into remittance business
By Ted P. Torres
The Philippine Star 02/09/2006
After taking a significant chunk of the credit card market, Citibank NA is now trying its hand on the money transfer or remittances business for Filipinos residing or working in the
Launched last year, the US-based financial institution will use its money cards or automatic teller machine (ATM) card to cater to the relatives of some 2.7 million Filipinos residing in the
Citibank has tapped its subsidiary – Citibank West (
Citibank West has over 900 branches US-wide although only 50 branches, mainly in
"We want to make all our 900 branches US-wide open to Filipinos," Calixto Garcia-Velez, Citibank
Garcia-Velez claims the cost of each transaction is only $8 which could be remitted by relatives in the
If the Philippine transaction is done in Citibank-based ATMs, there are no other fees. Interbank fees, however, apply for ATMs with other banks but within the MegaLink or BancNet networks.
Another distribution channel locally is Citibank Savings Bank, a product of the acquisition of Citibank of the then Insular Savings Bank. The thrift bank presently has 15 fully-operational branches, with another 21 branches expected to be fully online soon.
Garcia-Velez said that they are also offering various services and products for Filipinos in the
OWWA, Microsoft bridge digital divide among overseas workers
i.t. matters
feb 10, 2006
OWWA, Microsoft bridge digital divide among overseas workers
Alfonso Mirabueno, 45, never thought that at his age, he would be at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) training center for a month now tapping at the computer.
After 16 years of working abroad, he has enrolled in OWWA’s "Tulay: An Unlimited Potential Program for Overseas Filipino," an information technology (IT) training module where overseas workers take computer lessons on internet skills and basic applications in between jobs.
Tulay is an IT training program funded by a grant from software giant Microsoft
"I need basic knowledge of computers for [the] documentation [work] in my next office, which is an offshore rig off the
Mr. Mirabueno is one of the almost 19,000 overseas workers and their beneficiaries targeted in eight of Tulay’s training centers and three planned sites this year, OWWA administrator Marianito D. Roque told BusinessWorld.
"The free training gives [overseas workers] and their families improved level of communication other than SMS [short messaging system] or phone calls. By teaching them how use computers they will have a cheaper and longer communication alternative, imagine three SMS’s is almost equal to an hour of online chat and they can even see each other [through the webcam]," he added.
The overseas workers and their families also receive training for computer applications like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel for simple accounting and budgeting and Web skills, including Web design through a training module accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Those who finish the program are given a TESDA training certificate.
Tulay’s initial phase involved the opening of training centers at the
In 2004, three more centers were set up in Hong Kong,
"The project envisions that [overseas workers] will have a better peace of mind and thus promote and maximize their productivity at the job sites with the assurance that they have direct contact and can monitor family activities on a day-to-day basis," Mr. Roque said during the launch of Tulay’s third phase.
New training sites in
Antonio Javier, Jr., Microsoft’s managing director, told Business-World that Tulay is part of the firm’s commitment to "bridge the digital divide for under-served sectors of society [by] providing real solutions unique challenges that face [overseas workers]."
He added that additional training sites would be set up soon in the Middle East and
"We hope by the end of five years there would be a network for [overseas workers]."
Boholana OFW returns home safely
Feb 8, 2006
Boholana OFW returns home safely
By RIC V. OBEDENCIO
Boholana Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Maria Roxanie Luangco came home safely after an ordeal.
In an interview, Luangco said she worked as a domestic helper (DH) while experiencing a “nightmare” in
But for the family of Basilia Boncales of Trinidad town it seemed unfortunate that her daughter Estelita Avenido Boncales, who worked as DH was reportedly missing in
The fate of Margeliza Remoroza of La Victoria, Carmen town, who worked in
The family of Boncales expressed worry and asked agencies concerned to help them. The families of Boncales and Remoroza recently had approached OWWAD for help.
OWWAD said that the as of this writing no update from Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) on the whereabouts of Boncales.
At the same time, OWWAD is awaiting word from Philippine the embassy in
PAL flights to Riyadh can stay if Dubai route is added
Business Mirror
Feb 13, 2006
PAL flights to Riyadh can stay if Dubai route is added
BY Lenie Lectura
Reporter
PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) said it would call off plans to suspend flights to
In a letter to Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, PAL president Jaime Bautista proposed that the country's air negotiating panel negotiate for the flag carrier to operate a Manila-Dubai-KSA (
Specifically, PAL wants to pick up passengers in
"We believe that a small window of opportunity exists to save PAL's RP-KSA flights, if we are able to secure the necessary rights to operate via United Arab of Emirates (UAE) routing, with commercial traffic rights between KSA and
PAL already had intensive discussions with Saudi Arabian Airlines last week on this matter and related issues, and thus, it said, the next necessary step would be inter-action at the government level.
"We therefore urgently appeal to the government, through the DOTC and the RP Air Panel, to assist us in pursuing this opportunity with KSA authorities in the next few weeks, as it is perhaps the last chance to save our flag carrier's direct air links to the OFWs in the KSA," said Bautista.
PAL is set to suspend flights to
Six national carriers of Gulf countries operate 43 flights weekly between
In addition, five East Asian carriers serve the Gulf market from the
Saudi Airlines flies nine times a week to the
"The impeding suspension of PAL's Manila-Riyadh flights is a sad and sobering event that has been forced on us by a most untenable situation: a massive oversupply in RP-Middle East airline capacity exploited by subsidized Arab Gulf carriers to distort and eventually eliminate competition from airline business enterprises like PAL," said Bautista.
PAL attributed its $10 million or about P545 million yearly losses to the grant of nearly 800,000 seats to Gulf Air carriers since 2002.